Mietpreisbremse (rent cap) in Frankfurt am Main¹

Frankfurt am Main has been classified as an area with a strained housing market in the state of Hessen since 2015. The Mietpreisbremse (rent cap, § 556d BGB) has since applied to new-lease rents across the entire city — including sought-after areas like Sachsenhausen, Bornheim and Westend.

The new-letting rent may be at most 10 % above the local comparative rent (Mietspiegel, rent index). With a citywide average rent of around 18.5 €/m², this margin carries real weight depending on year built and location. Exceptions: new builds (first occupied after October 2014) and comprehensively modernised flats.

If your landlord is in breach, you can object in writing (Rüge) and reclaim the rent overpaid from the point the objection is received (statute of limitations: 3 years) — in Frankfurt am Main the possible overpayment averages around 355 € per month. A qualified objection has no longer been required since 2019. Have your claim reviewed by a lawyer.